Magazine tube lighting system

ABSTRACT

The invention is mounted on the forward end of a firearms magazine using an adapter that replaces the magazine cap. The invention contains a small bulb (LED, incandescent, or any other available source of light, visible or invisible), at least one battery, and an internal or external actuating switch. Depending on the size requirements of the user, the invention can also increase the amount of ammunition the firearm is capable of carrying by extending the length of the magazine tube. The light emitted from the invention will be aligned with the muzzle of the weapon and illuminate the area that the weapon is pointed at.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to this invention there have been patents issued relating to the connection or merging of a long gun (shotgun or rifle) and a light of various types. An example of this is U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,226, “Magazine-mounted, integral firearm lighting system.” This patent “enables a commercially available flashlight to be mounted on or in the forward end of a firearm's magazine, thereby configuring a source of illumination in precise alignment with the bore of the gun. In contrast to prior-art devices, the inventive approach requires no modification to the gun in general or magazine in particular, and may consume the space taken by a single shell, allowing the remainder of the magazine to hold shells, as is typical. The preferred embodiment permits certain types of barreled flashlights, such as the Maglight.RTM., Smith & Wesson.RTM. or Dorcy.RTM. having a diameter on the order of 7/10 inch to be mounted on or into the forward end of the magazine through the use of an adapter base module. To position the non-illuminating end of the flashlight in alignment relative to the spring present in the magazine, an optional spring guide in used.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,346 describes “A mounting apparatus for the quick-detachable securing of a flashlight or a like target illumination device to a firearm. The mounting device includes a passage for receiving the barrel of the flashlight or the like. The passage is provided with a resilient means to press the flashlight longitudinally along approximately the same axis as the firearm's barrel in opposition to a springably-positioned latch system engaging one end of the flashlight which prevents its dislodgment upon movement of the firearm during handling or discharge, yet enabling relatively quick, one-handed release and replacement of the entire flashlight. The flashlight or the like is prevented from rotating in the passage by a groove in the interior of the passage that engages part of the flashlight body thereby indexing it so that the flashlight's controls are always in the same position and accessible to the user.”

U.S. Pat. No. 3,222,511 is an invention relating “to a novel and useful gun barrel mounted light and more specifically to electrically actuated illumination means adapted to be secured to a gun barrel and to cast a beam of light along the line of sight of the gun. The flashlight or illumination means of the instant invention includes a body portion which may be readily removably secured to a gun barrel or gunstock in a manner so as to position the illumination means to cast a beam of light along the line of sight of the gun barrel.”

U.S. Pat. No. 1,702,101 relates “to a flashlight attachment for firearms, and particularly to a construction of clamping devices embracing both the flashlight and the barrel of the firearm to which it is attached.”

U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,218 relates to “An aim assistance light beam is provided for a firearm having a barrel and a movable fore-end assembly for loading shells and actuating a firearm action. A lamp and reflector throws that light beam upon electric energization of a lamp in the lamp and reflector assembly. A battery housing for mounting that lamp and reflector assembly is below the barrel and is in the form of a hand grip for manual actuation of the fore-end assembly. That battery housing is mounted on the fore-end assembly for manual actuation of the fore-end assembly with that battery housing which also contains the battery for electrically energizing the lamp. ”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,669 illustrates a “A system and mount for releasably coupling an infrared aiming light beneath he barrel of a shotgun, including a gun barrel and an extended tubular magazine. The mount includes four clampable opposing mount surfaces, where two of the surfaces approximates a curvature of the firearm barrel and two that approximates a curvature of the extended tubular magazine. A rail mating surface and draw screw releasably couples a rail, integral with an infrared aiming light, to and below the mount surfaces. The system includes optional activation of the aiming light using a tape switch located on the hand grip of the shotgun.”

The military, law enforcement community, and individuals interested in home defense require a lighting system that can attach to a shotgun or rifle with little added weight and possibly increasing the capacity of the magazine tube while not changing the size of the fore grip. Much of the prior art relates to the addition of a flashlight to a firearm but none of them provide the possibility of adding additional ammunition and possibly decreasing the weight of the flashlight by limiting its size.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention gives the operator of a shotgun or rifle the ability to attach a flashlight to the weapon without adding unnecessary weight and without limiting the use of the fore grip. In addition to this the capacity of the magazine tube can be increased, depending on the needs of the shooter. This invention includes a piece of cylindrical or nearly cylindrical material of similar diameter to that of the magazine tube of the weapon to which it will be attached. Contained within this tube are a light bulb or LED, optics, lens, at least one battery, and an internal or external actuating switch. The tube is attached to the shotgun or rifles existing magazine tube using a specially designed piece of hardware that replaces the end cap. Depending on the shooters preference the invention can also increase the ammunition capacity of the firearms existing magazine tube with the addition of a new magazine tube spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts a partial side view of the front portion of the barrel of a firearm, magazine tube, and the attached invention (magazine tube extension with a flashlight.)

FIG. 2 depicts the basic internal pieces of the magazine tube extension with a flashlight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention gives the shooter of a long gun (shotgun or rifle) the ability to attach a flashlight to the weapon without adding unnecessary weight and without limiting the use of the fore grip. The invention can also be made to specific lengths and contain only a flashlight or can contain a flashlight and additional ammunition for the firearm. The exterior of the invention can be constructed from metal, plastic, or any combination of the two or available materials. The light source contained within the exterior cylindrical or nearly cylindrical material can contain a light bulb or LED, optics, lens, at least one battery, and an internal or external actuating switch.

The tube is attached to the shotgun or rifles existing magazine tube using a specially designed piece of hardware that replaces the end cap of the magazine and mates the existing magazine tube to the invention.

The actuating switch can be either an internal switch or an external switch with a cord (or wires) of varying lengths. The varying lengths would give the shooter the ability of place the switch in a desirable location. 

1. A cylindrical or nearly cylindrical tube will be attached to the existing magazine tube of a firearm using a threaded nut. The tube will consist of at least the following items: A. A bulb or LED, lens, and optics as required or needed B. At least one battery C. An internal or external actuating switch D. All other required hardware for a flashlight
 2. The device of claim 1 can be of varying lengths, depending on the requirements of the firearm operator, and may contain additional ammunition with the addition of a longer magazine tube spring.
 3. The device of claim 1 may be of smaller or larger diameter than the magazine tube attached to the firearm by the manufacturer.
 4. The device of claim 1 will illuminate the area that the muzzle of the firearm is pointed at.
 5. The device of claim 1 will not change the size of the fore-grip of the long gun. 